IBM has been a leader in the tech industry for a long time, inventing many technologies that we use today, such as the UPC bar code and theSQL programming language. In the last few years, this Fortune 500 tech giant has focused on training the next generation of workers, introducing programs like IBM SkillsBuild.
Through its SkillsBuild offering, learners can take free courses online in topics like cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data analysis, and more.
IBM is focused on reaching people who have traditionally been left out of the tech sector, such as women, veterans, refugees, and underrepresented minorities.
Many of the courses can be completed in less than 10 hours, making it a good starting point for learners who are considering a career switch. There are more than half a million open positions in the U.S., so this could mean a leg up for candidates looking to break into the tech industry.
There are opportunities for individuals when demand and supply are high. We are in an exciting time, says the man. The four-year degree requirement is dropping for a lot of positions. We are looking for people with talent and interest.
Upon completion of a SkillsBuild course, learners earn a digital credential. The holidays are a good time to learn a new skill.
She says that it is another way for employers to know that even if you have never had that kind of job before, you know what you are able to do. It’s a way to make people more attractive as potential employees and give them a bite-sized experience.
Four foundation courses that give a high-level overview of the topic, as well as information about the skills needed to succeed, are recommended by Logan. Learners in these courses can do real-world projects with IBM partners upon completion of the course. The following courses can be useful for people who want to learn a new skill or make a career switch.
- Cybersecurity Fundamentals
- Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals
- Data Fundamentals
- Information Technology Fundamentals
Information security analysts are one of the fastest-growing jobs in the U.S.
If you think about it, we have a lot of personal data. It is important to have people in place who are working on the internal policies, education of employees, and making sure they are protected against bad actors.
Information about the cyber job market can be found in the Cybersecurity Fundamentals course offered by IBM. Case studies are included in the course, which focuses on cyber attacks, cryptography, and security strategies. It will take six hours to complete.
Artificial intelligence is growing in importance. According to a report published in October 2022, 94 percent of business leaders agree that artificial intelligence is critical to success in the next five years.
Machine learning engineers, data scientists, and business intelligence developers are some of the top jobs. According to several job marketing platforms, these workers make over $100,000 a year.
Natural language processing, computer vision, machine learning, deep learning, and neural networks are included in IBM’s course. The importance of ethical AI and its applications will be learned by the participants. The course lasts about nine hours.
This course can be a way for people to get a feel for the tech industry, and possibly pursue a job in data analysis. There are a lot of good-paying entry-level jobs as data analysts.
Data science, programming languages, and the data ecosystem are some of the topics covered in the seven-hour course. IBM says that it helps data scientists, developers, and analysts build, run, and manage artificial intelligence models by teaching them how to clean, refine, and visualize data.
Participants are given an introduction to job outlooks. According to the U.S. BLS, data scientists’ job growth is much faster than other occupations. The median base salary for these workers is $100,000.
IT basics and tools used by IT professionals are the focus of the course. Computer basics, networking, hardware, software, and computer security are some of the topics the learners focus on. The participants are helping a customer use a remote connection.
The job outlook for IT professionals is introduced to the learners in the other courses. According to the BLS, IT support salaries are over $60,000. Many of the professionals work to upskill and eventually move into data-focused roles. Learners can complete this course in 10 hours and earn a credentials.
If you don’t have experience on the job already, these digital credentials will help to beef up your resume. It shows that you are willing and ready to do what it takes to be a successful employee at the tech company.
You can check out Fortune’s rankings of degree programs and learn more about career paths.